Potable water production and wastewater treatment continues during lockdown, assures Umgeni Water

UMGENI Water has assured the public that the production of drinking water and wastewater treatment are occurring as per normal during the lock-down.

This assurance was given after some municipalities questioned if potable water would be sufficient in the remaining days of the lockdown and some consumers also expressed concern about water adequacy.

Corporate Stakeholder Manager of Umgeni Water, Shami Harichunder, said adequate precautions and measures have been implemented at water treatment plants and wastewater works to protect the health of key staff, such as operators, so that these services continue to function uninterrupted.

“Supply and distribution of water is an essential service, as declared by the Essential Services Committee, established in terms of Section 70 of the Labour Relations Act.

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“Umgeni Water derives its mandate of bulk potable water and sanitation services provision from the Water Services Act 108 of 1997 and the National Water Act 36 of 1998,” said Harichunder.

These are core functions of a Water Services Provider and are, therefore, essential in nature.

“The quantity supplied remains in accordance with contractual stipulations, while Umgeni Water’s quality management programme for drinking water is being enforced without exception. This programme encompasses rigorous monitoring, water quality assessment, systems audit and compliance with South African National Standards 241: 2015 for drinking water quality,” he added.

Similarly, ancillary laboratory services continue to be conducted or offered to the organisation’s customers who comprise of:

• eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality;
• Msunduzi Local Municipality;
• Ugu District Municipality;
• iLembe District Municipality;
• uMgungundlovu District Municipality;
• Harry Gwala District Municipality, and
• uThukela District Municipality

An estimated seven million consumers ultimately receive drinking water that is treated and supplied by Umgeni Water to its municipal customers.

Harichunder said adequate preparations have been made to ensure that key staff that are involved in the water treatment and distribution processes are on duty so that the seven municipalities continue to receive water to enable them to supply it to consumers. Preventative measures implemented include social distancing in the work place where staff are seated at least two metres apart, issuing of protective gear to staff and restricting of access to all of Umgeni Water’s plants, dams and offices by service providers, contractors and consultants.

Umgeni Water operates, maintains and manages 12 wastewater treatment plants. This service is vital for protection of the environment and downstream communities.

The process involves treatment of ingress and discharge of it, in its treated form, into the river system. Umgeni Water remains committed to ensuring that wastewater released into rivers is not harmful to the environment, aquatic life and communities that live alongside rivers.

During the lockdown, Umgeni Water continues to operate these wastewater plants and adhere strictly to all wastewater risk abatement plans and implementation of mitigation strategies that ensure wastewater is treated to an acceptable standard.

Preventative and risk mitigation measures similar to those that are being applied at water treatment plants have also been implemented at wastewater treatment works. These precautions have been taken to try to shield staff from transmission of Covid-19.

Raw water resources in the supply area of Umgeni Water are at this stage adequate to meet the full demands of municipalities. In the Mgeni System that supplies the municipalities of eThekwini, Msunduzi and uMgungundlovu, all the dams there – except Albert Falls – range in levels of between 68 per cent and 100 per cent.

Albert Falls Dam is at 36 per cent. Others are: Midmar – 99 per cent; Spring Grove – 68 per cent; Mearns – 98 per cent; Nagle – 100 per cent and Inanda – 84 per cent. Total storage in this system is at 71 per cent which means it is at an acceptable level and there is no risk of prolonged water shortages occurring in the near future.

In the Middle South Coast, the three dams there – Nungwane, Umzinto and EJ Smith – are full to capacity at 100 per cent each, while Mhlabatshane is at 67 per cent. These dams supply Ugu District Municipality.

In the north of Durban, Hazelmere Dam is at 56 per cent, while iMvutshane Dam in Maphumulo is at 78 per cent. Hazelmere supplies areas in the north of Durban and parts of iLembe, while iMvutshane supplies Maphumulo. In Ixopo, Home Farm Dam is at 65 per cent.

In the uThukela District, the three dams there – Woodstock, Spioenkop and Wagendrift – are also in a healthy state at 91 per cent, 100 per cent and 101 per cent respectively.

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